One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.
The orginal title "Federal Dick" was changed after objections from FBI Director J Edgar Hoover. Hoover wrote a memo to Henry Suydam, an assistant to the Attorney General who dealt with publicity and related affairs. He complained:
"I do not know whether it is possible or not but I do think Mr Brylawski (Paramount lawyer Fulton Brylawski) be told that the title of the picture is particularly obnoxious. The Agents of this Bureau are not "Dicks" and I think it is a most humiliating and repugnant title, and believe that if possible Mr Brylawski should be so advised."
"I do not know whether it is possible or not but I do think Mr Brylawski (Paramount lawyer Fulton Brylawski) be told that the title of the picture is particularly obnoxious. The Agents of this Bureau are not "Dicks" and I think it is a most humiliating and repugnant title, and believe that if possible Mr Brylawski should be so advised."